‘Paschim Banga Kheria Sabar Kalyan Samiti’,Puruliya,West Bengal,India: Case Study of an NGO’s Role in Poverty Alleviation

Abstract

India is still struggling with poverty, especially rural poverty, which is most widespread among the socially disadvantaged groups. Following a global shift in the poverty debate from top–down to bottom–up approaches, there seems to be a greater need for engagement at the local level to tackle with the problem of poverty, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) have an important role to play in this context. The present analysis is presented against this backdrop of the need for effective poverty reduction in the country, and reviews the role of an NGO, the Paschim Banga Kheria Sabar Kalyan Samiti (PBKSKS) in Puruliya, West Bengal that has been working with a marginalized community, the Kheria Sabar. The analysis highlights the achievements of the NGO, and comments on its role in poverty alleviation through social and economic empowerment of the community. The article is based on ethnographic research conducted in 2004 at the micro-level in Puruliya where the community largely resides.